The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-08-25

ing.knife was In the way, and in order to
rid myself Of II I adjusted 1t nearer my
waist, having the slip holding It behind
me. name this circumstance, % It will
be seen thereby saved my life. On ar.
riving at the Arab douar near the ravine,
the Arabs conducted me to q spot about
400 yards of, on the edge Of broad and
deep gorge, saying, The panther is
in the gorge. Wait here, and you will
be sure to see her. They chose little
group Of bushes exactly suited to my
purpose, and placed myself, having the
ravine at my back. The Arabs then
left me, wishing me good luck. A few
minutes had hardly elapsed; had Just
seated myself in my little thicket, and
had not az yet placed my hunting-knife
near me. / was putting back some
branches that hindered the free move
ment of my arms, when, swifter than a
cannon-ball, the panther had sprung
upon the goat, killing 1t instantane eously.
held my breath, waiting for ray of
moonlight to permit of an aim, q cloud
just obscuring the moon, when what was
my astonishment to see the panther,
carrying the goat nimbly as cat with
mouse in its mouth, passing before me
only three yards of, and directly oppo-
site.
"The recollection of my nights
spent to no purpose flashes across
me; In moment of anger, and
forgetting all my VOWS of prudence, I
fire at the huge mass close at hand. The
animal fell, uttering fearful roars. I
had broken his two fore-paws. The
slightest movement on my part must
now attract its attention and prove my
destruction. Prudence enjoined the
most absolute silence and motionless-
ness, but, fearing surprise, and wishing
to be able to fire second time, never
theless rise little. In doing so, the
hood of my burnouse is caught in a
branch and dragged on to my shoulder.
This was another providential circum-
stance to which owe my life. At the
slight rustling of the branches the animal
became perfectly still. Hearing nothing,
seeing nothing, suppose him to be dead.
Now bending down and moving with the
utmost precaution, am about to quit my
hidingplace, still having my hand on the
trigger, when the panther perceives me
and springs. lire, but the rapidity of the
movement and the darkness make me
miss aim. My ball enters the ground,
just grazing the animals neck, and,
more furious than before, he rushes
upon me, hurling me down as if he
were q steam engine. I fall under,
meath him, being on my back, and
having my elbows in the bushes which
had served as my hiding place The
panther now tries to throttle me, but
fortunately my throat is well protected
by the thick collar of my coat, and also
by the hood of the burnouse that had
fallen, as have before mentioned.
with my left hand I try to force
back the animal, whilst with my right
make desperate efforts to get at
my hunting-knife. My right hand is
mangled, but is partly protected by the
sleeve of my coat; my face also. Find
ing that l cannot get at my knife, now
fasten both my hands round the animals
throat, trying to free myself that way.
For a moment my head is in his jaws
smell his horrid breath. Then putting
all the strength that remains into the
final effort compel him to free me. My
left arm is now attacked, and, but for the
thick coverings, would have been crushed
like glass. All this time l am on my
back, and the panther is uttering fearful
howls. He now tries again to get my
head into his jaws, breaking my jaws, my
cheek-bone, crushing, as it seemed, my
head. l resist as we'll as I can, and,
at last, for a second time, free myself, this
time pushing him SO vigorously that the
animal unable to use his fore-paws, rolls
over to the bottom of the ravine. De-
livered at last, and not moment too
soon, rose, not as yet knowing what
had become of the enemy. At this juno
ture the Arabs came up, having heard the
struggle, but not daring to venture out
till all was perfectly still. The cries of
the panther had frightened their cattle
and sheep, which rushed about not know
ing where to hide themselves. The
Arabs would have carried me to their
douar and dressed my wounds there,
but l insisted on being taken to the
French farm at Corso, which l had quit
ted few hours ago safe and sound, re-
turning more dead than alive"
NJ. Bombonnel was terribly damaged
in this encounter, having received twenty.
seven wounds, most Of them of very
serious nature, and three of his teeth
were knocked out.